Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose

“Promise Me, Dad is a brisk, often uplifting read, a consequence of its author’s congenital jollity and irrepressible candor.” - Vanity Fair

A deeply moving memoir about the year that would forever change both a family and a country.

In November 2014, thirteen members of the Biden family gathered on Nantucket for Thanksgiving, a tradition they had been celebrating for the past forty years; it was the one constant in what had become a hectic, scrutinized, and overscheduled life. The Thanksgiving holiday was a much-needed respite, a time to connect, a time to reflect on what the year had brought, and what the future might hold. But this year felt different from all those that had come before. Joe and Jill Biden's eldest son, Beau, had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor fifteen months earlier, and his survival was uncertain. "Promise me, Dad," Beau had told his father. "Give me your word that no matter what happens, you’re going to be all right." Joe Biden gave him his word.

Promise Me, Dad chronicles the year that followed, which would be the most momentous and challenging in Joe Biden’s extraordinary life and career. Vice President Biden traveled more than a hundred thousand miles that year, across the world, dealing with crises in Ukraine, Central America, and Iraq. When a call came from New York, or Capitol Hill, or Kyiv, or Baghdad―“Joe, I need your help”―he responded. For twelve months, while Beau fought for and then lost his life, the vice president balanced the twin imperatives of living up to his responsibilities to his country and his responsibilities to his family. And never far away was the insistent and urgent question of whether he should seek the presidency in 2016.

The year brought real triumph and accomplishment, and wrenching pain. But even in the worst times, Biden was able to lean on the strength of his long, deep bonds with his family, on his faith, and on his deepening friendship with the man in the Oval Office, Barack Obama.

Writing with poignancy and immediacy, Joe Biden allows readers to feel the urgency of each moment, to experience the days when he felt unable to move forward as well as the days when he felt like he could not afford to stop.

This is a book written not just by the vice president, but by a father, grandfather, friend, and husband. Promise Me, Dad is a story of how family and friendships sustain us and how hope, purpose, and action can guide us through the pain of personal loss into the light of a new future.

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There are hundreds of great true crime books out there. There is something about reading one that sends chills down your spine. Of course, fictional crime books are a great read as well, but knowing what you are reading actually happened in real life makes the book much more interesting. This guideline will provide you with an overview of three of the best true crime books ever written that are a must read for any book fanatic. If you would like to purchase any of the books that are mentioned in this guideline, check out online stores like BookCloseouts.com and Borders.com.

1. “My Sister is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice”

“My Sister is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice” was written by Sherri Gladden-Davis and Brad Crawford. This book was released in 2005 and is 320 pages long. It follows the story of the disappearance of Fran Gladden-Davis, who is the sister to Sherri. Fran was living in Princeton, New Jersey, at the time and for some odd reason, the police allowed the Gladden-Davis family to be involved in the investigation. The main suspect in the disappearance of Fran was John David Smith III, Fran’s husband. Sherri tells the story of how she followed John across the United States trying to get the evidence that was needed to send him to jail.

2. “Death Cruise”

Donald A. Davis is the author of “Death Cruise,” which was released in 1996. “Death Cruise” follows the story of Ohioan Joan Rogers and her two daughters. She met a friendly boat owner named Oba Chandler, and despite her fear for water, decided to accept his invitation to go on a ride with him in Tampa Bay. Little did she know that he had a reputation for using and discarding women. As the boat reached the Gulf of Mexico, Oba Chandler turned his boat off and transformed himself into a sadistic torturer. This crime book tells the story of how a team of top notch detectives and Oba Chandler’s neighbors were able to convict him of the crimes that he committed and send him to jail on a death penalty verdict.

3. “Under the Bridge”

Rebecca Godfrey, the author of “Under the Bridge,” released the book in 2005. This book is about a murder that took place in a small town in British Columbia in November 1997. The victim, Reena Virk, ended up being alienated from her Indian family and spent time trying to find a place with a bad crowd of teenagers. One of the girls from the crowd held a grudge against Reena, who ended up being beaten and drowned under a bridge. Although seven girls and one boy were charged with assault, only Warren Glowatski and Kelly Ellard were convicted of murder. It took three trials to convict Ellard, but she was finally sent to jail in 2005.

Morris CohonMy father. During my entire life, my father ran three separate businesses: he was a stockbroker; a dealer in fine American antiques; and a breeder and seller of Charolais cattle. He was also an avid go player, who joined the Nippon Club in NYC, where he competed in tournaments. Only years later did I realize how unusual it was for an American family to have so many Japanese friends in the 1940s. My father loved to laugh. He also loved books, food, theater, music, and art. He enjoyed sharing those interests, and it is partially my memories of this that delight me still.

This is not a scan. It is a handheld photo of an older photo, but it is better than nothing. By Muffet on 2010-03-06 19:42:02

Unlike most books by politicians, “Promise Me, Dad,” is more committed to communicating to us the values and principles of a family man who happens to have been a politician. That, however, is not what compelled me to start this review before evern getting through Chapter 3.

Chapter 2 was simply the most compelling narration regarding the hopes, fears, dreams and nightmares through which a family succumbs while dealing with cancer. The brief, yet detailed explanation of the surgery performed on Beau Biden goes along way to showing us this is not just another political narrative.

I bought both the Kindle and the Audible version. I greatly enjoy reading along while a narrator reads the book. Much as I did as a child at home listening to Mom, or a student in school listening to the teacher. With VP Joe Biden, not himself a professional voice actor, reading this highly personal account, this is possibly the most important read of 2017.

That does not mean, as yet, that I am sold on Joe Biden for President. Only time will reveal to us if he even should run. Until recently, though, I was certain he should not run, so, who knows, I may come around to becoming one of his staunchest supporters, outside of his nuclear family.

BLUSH FACTOR There is, essentially, no cussing and no vulgarities in this tome. Share it with your friends and family in all walks of life, regardless of ages, sex, or religious affiliation.

Bottom Line

Five stars, but, if I had them to give, I’d rate it 10 stars.

Comments regarding your opinion of this book or of my review, whether favorable or unfavorable, are always welcome. If you buy the book based on my review and become disappointed, especially, I do want to know that and I want to understand how I can improve as a book reviewer. Just please be polite.

I got this as an audiobook. It is read by VP Biden himself. I am blown away. The “inside” accounts of times I always wanted to know more about are there. Numerous thought provoking passages. Warm and insightful. I will need to actually read parts of this book to get it all. Thoroughly enjoyable.

This review is from: Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose (Hardcover)

I am from Delaware. The Biden’s are what the Kennedy’s are to Massachusetts. I remember when Joe Biden was running for the senate and he wasn’t even 30. The accident that took the life of his first wife and daughter. His commute everyday to be with his sons. His character was to be commended. Joe Biden put Delaware on the map that we really are a State. I remember when his son Beau was Attorney General. Reading this book was like reading about a family member. We all prayed when we found out Beau had brain cancer. We all mourned with him when Beau died.The book a look inside Joe Biden’s family as he reminisced about losing his first wife and daughter in a train accident. Commuting to Washington via Amtrak, meeting and marrying Jill, watching the family grow up establishing family traditions, his career in the Senate and as vice president, his faith ,preparing himself to say goodbye to his beloved son. Any parent who has lost a child this is a must read.